Sheet dispenser



June 29, 1937. v G Al SHAFFER 2,085,480

SHEET DISPENSER l Filed Dec. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,....In'n

@frm/w?- Wwf V.une 29, 1937. G. A. SHAFFER 2,085,480

SHEET DISPENSER Filed Deo. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zo zo Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET DISPENSER Application December 8, 1934, Serial No. '756,684

6 Claims.

A The invention relates to dispensers for interfolded sheets as paper towels or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel structure adapted to lessen the strain necessary to be placed upon a sheet for its withdrawal from a package of interfolded sheets.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character applicable to existing dispensing casings or to be applied to casings during their manufacture, in the latter case forming a rigid portion of the dispenser.

--. It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character having elements to shift the support of the center of the column of sheets from one to the other and also having means to support the edges of the sheets at all times.

, Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection` with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein?- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of the lower portion of a dispensing cabinet casing having the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a similar View showing one position taken of the parts during action of withdrawing the sheet;

Figure 3 is an end View of the structure of the invention with the casing omitted;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a form ofthe invention applicable to dispensers during their manufacture;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing a position of the parts taken when the sheet is being withdrawn;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan View of a portion of the structure of Figure 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of still a furthe-r form of the invention.

As shown in Figures 1-4 inclusive the device of the invention comprises a structure l0 shown in plan View in Figure 4 and comprising in this form a U-shaped frame having end members I2, connected by a side member I3 readily insertable into existing cabinets. Trays I4, I5 are shown as pivotally supported in the frame I |-l3 as on pivots I6, Il, I 8, I9. The innermost edges of the trays I4, l5 are turned at angles 20, 2|, and the ends at angles 22,'23. The portions 20, 2|, are notched, as shown at 24, 25, Figure 3, to receive the ends of bars 26, 2l, which bars are pivotally mounted as at 28, 29 in the frame members: Il, l2.

(Cl. S12-60) Carried by the edges Z, 2| of trays I4, I5, are plates 35, 3|, the top edges of which are inclined inwardly and rounded to provide a surface of slight friction about which the leading edge 32 of a sheet being withdrawn may be drawn.

It will thus be seen that when a package of interfolded sheets as towels are placed in the device, supported by the members 30, 3|, at its center, the edges of the sheets will drop and be supported at the edges of the trays I4, I5 closely adjacent the axis of their pivots. Thus only a portion of the weight of the column of sheets will be supported upon the portions of the sheets which are being withdrawn through the passage between elements 30, 3l.

As a pull is exerted upon a leading edge 32, the member 3| and tray I4 will be depressed about the pivots I6, I'I, and through the action of the bars 25, 21, the member 3| will be correspondingly lifted. Thus all friction due to weight of the superincumbent sheets will be taken away from the portion of the sheet in motion.

As the right hand side of the sheet shown in Figure 2 is fully drawn out, the pull will shift to reverse the position of the bars 26, 2l to shift the support of the sheets to the opposite of that shown in Figure 2. The position of the parts in Figure 2 is shown in exaggerated form for clarity of showing. In practice very little motion of the bars 26, 2l will result, merely enough to remove o pressure upon one side while transferring to the other.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 adapted for application to dispensers during their manufacture is shown as applied to a type of dispenser wherein the bottom members 33, 34 are free of connection at their ends with the adjacent vertical side members, as indicated in Figure '7. The portions 33, 34 are connected to the end walls of the cabinet at points adjacent the outer edges as, for instance, at 35, Figure 7. The who-le central portion of the bottom is therefore free for hinge movement about the attached portions at 35. The central portions of members 33, 34 are shown as bent upwardly at 36, 3l, and 45 their edges` turned to provide rounded surfaces 3S, 39, about which the sheets may be drawn.

To support the edges 36, 3l, there are shown bars 40 pivotally connected at 4| to the interior surfaces of the ends of the cabinet. The edges of the sheets will then rest upon the bottom portions 33, 34 in the same manner as already described in connection with Figures l and 2, and the action of the bars 40 is precisely similar to that of the bars 26, 21.

In this showing also, the amount of motion which the parts will have in use is exaggerated for purposes of clarity.

Because the structure of the invention reduces to a minimum the strain necessary to be applied to a sheet for its withdrawal, it is possible to dispense sheets of little strength and it becomes feasible to utilize towels of soft paper such as the creped paper now in common use for toilet paper, which is considerably more absorbent than the paper towels now in common use.

To further reduce strain of withdrawal of sheets there are shown in Figure 8, rollers 42, mounted as shown on elements 3B, 3| in replacement of the curved sheet supporting portions of those elements.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

l. A dispenser for interfolded sheets comprising, in combination: a casing structure; sheet supporting bottom members terminating at opposed edges spaced apart midway of the bottom of the casing to provide an elongated delivery opening; said members hingedly connected to the structure at their portions opposite said spaced apart edges whereby said edges are vertically movable; and supporting means for said edges pivoted to the structure midway of said opening; said means causing lifting of either of said edges when the other thereof is depressed.

2. A dispenser for interfolded sheets comprising, in combination: a casing structure; sheet supporting bottom members for said structure hingedly connected to the structure adjacent their edges opposite said spaced apart edges and free for hinge movement; the inner edges of said members spaced apart to provide an elongated delivery opening; a bar pivotally mounted at its center in said casing at an end of said delivery opening; theends of said bar supporting the respective inner edges of said members; whereby pull upon a sheet being abstracted may depress one of said edges and raise the other thereof in alternation to lessen friction upon the withdrawn sheet.

3. A dispenser for interfolded sheets comprising, in combination: a casing structure comprising bottom wall portions, their edges spaced apart to provide a central elongated delivery opening and raised above the general surface of the bottom to provide supports for the central portion of sheets in the structure with the edges of the supported sheet resting on said general surface; said bottom wall portions pivotally supported by the casing structure at their portions opposite said raised edges; said raised portions free for vertical movement; means pivotally secured to the structure acting to support said edges and sheets resting thereon; said means acting to lift either edge as the other thereof is depressed by strain of a portion of a withdrawn sheet thereon.

4. A dispenser for interfolded sheets comprising, in combination: a casing; the bottom of said casing comprising portions sloping upwardly and inwardly from positions between the center and the outer edges thereof; the raised edges of said portions spaced apart to provide a delivery slot; the ends of said portions being free of the side walls of the casing to allow vertical movement of said raised edges; the edges of said portions opposite said raised portions hingedly connected to the structure; a bar pivoted at its center upon a side wall of the casing at each end of said slot, the ends of the respective bars providing support for said free edges; whereby depression of either edge lifts the remaining edge.

5. A dispenser for interfolded sheets comprising, in combination: a frame insertable into a casing above a delivery opening therein; a pair of plates pivotally supported at their outer edges in said frame and the inner edges thereof opposite said hinged edges, spaced apart adjacent the center of the frame to provide an elongated sheet delivery slot; means carried by said inner edges to reduce friction of a sheet pulled thereover; means carried by the frame at the ends of said slot to support the free inner edges of said plates, acting to elevate either as the other is depressed.

6. A dispenser for interfolded sheets comprising, in combination: a frame insertable in a casing above a delivery opening therein; a pair of plates pivotally supported at their outer edges in said frame with their inner edges spaced apart to provide a central delivery slot; raised members carried by said inner edges to support the central portions of sheets in said casing with the edges of said sheets resting on said plates and a bar pivoted at its center in said frame, its ends underlying said respective edges; whereby to support said edges and to lift one thereof when the other is depressed.

GLENN A. SHAFFER. 

